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for my bed buddy i went another step to brace it a bit more...
it comes with (3) 5/16" stainless bolts with normal sized washers....and like you have heard, there was SOME twising when really cranking down the bikes using the side tie down points. For a bit i just used the bed buddy as the wheel chock and for the center tie down.
but, to strengthen it and the bed a little i went and picked up some hardware at hope depot. I bought two more 5/16" bolts to spead the load to five points instead of three, and I bought 5/16" x 1-1/2" fender washers so that the bolt clamping force was spread. on the back side, i drilled a piece of flat bar in the same spots and mounted it so there is much more metal to grab onto and spread the force. it's pretty damn solid and not going anywhere, total of about $20 in extra hardware and an hour of time.
KGS that sounds like the best way to spread the load. across the metal. I think I will go that route.. can you perhaps put some pictures up that show where you drilled the additional holes?
I have a feeling I will only be using it as a wheel chock like you mentioned and when I do carry two bikes I will use only the center tie down and the factory tie downs.
I really like the aluminum tie down track as well.
The ring connectors are rated at from 500 to 1,000 pounds, so plenty strong, but as dan pointed out, you ultimately will be limited by how well the track is tied into the truck and how strong the truck metal is where you tie in!
I used small segments on the top/rear of my bed rails as bicycle/moto tie down points. I was able to use through bolts with backing plates, so it is pretty strong.
Dan,
Are you still satisfied with your Versa Tie installation? To install the track sections in all six mounting locations how many kit's did you need? Did you use the factory hardware?
Thanks!
I fabricated, powdercoated and bolted down a piece of angle iron on each side of my bed rail, then added the "L" channel. Bought a variety of D rings etc. for securing payload.
I ended up going low budget... really just needed one center tiedown point in the front of the bed, so I just did this:
$11 from Lowes for a set of two, and I only needed one of them...
It is mounted 7.5" back from the front wall of the bed for two reasons - first it avoids the cross member that is underneath, and second, it puts it right in line with the factory tiedown points on either side.
These are from my 2000 XLT, they were awesome (especially compared to the crummy cleats you see here). I had them at the four corners of the bed for tying down my ATV. Got them from TSC. Install was easy - and simple, I backed the bolts up with large fender washers and gooped the holes with silicon seal to make sure no rust was going to happen. I haven't crawled under my 2014 yet to see if it's possible.
10-19-2011, 04:40 PM
